This tile installation blog is your one stop shop for trade secrets and general information on tile installation. If you are a homeowner and looking to purchase a tile shower, back splash, tile floors - Let us help you not get ripped off. Look into the mind of a Pro tile installer. I’m sure to help any DIY tile person too with videos and photos!
🚿Should you tile up to the ceiling on your next shower remodel?💁
Should you tile up to the ceiling on your next shower remodel?
With the many customization options available when you are buying a new shower, one question many ask is,
“Should I go up to the ceiling with my tile?”
The answer is… IT’S UP TO YOU!
BUT:
As a tile installer and bathroom re-modeler, I recommend going to the ceiling if the conditions are right.
There are a few reasons I encourage my clients to tile up to the ceiling:
Tile is meant for a wet area.
No one likes to see wet paint and drywall. When you’re taking about a shower, water gets everywhere. If the tile doesn’t go to the ceiling, the section of the shower with paint and drywall will get wet. Paint and drywall is not water proof, so, overtime you may have problems with mold and decay. The paint and drywall won’t perform well in a wet area, like your shower. It may take a long time, but it is a possible problem.
Some people solve this problem with a higher quality paint, but let’s remember this is a shower. Tile should be the norm in the entirety of the space.
EVERYTHING GETS WET IN YOUR SHOWER!
Save yourself the head ache and tile it!
An example of a shower that has not been tiled to the ceiling. The paint and drywall is seeing a lot of moisture.
2. The tile installer is on site, have them tile it!
Why not spend the extra money and have the tiler go all the way? !n builder grade homes, I see it all the time, tile stopping well below the ceiling. The tile installer is there, why wouldn’t you have them tile all the way to the ceiling?!
Well, we know the answer. It’s to save money. Over the course of many houses it adds up, but when you’re having your bathroom remodeled, spend the extra money and time, while you can, to have the tile brought to the ceiling.
I recommend water proofing to the ceiling, as well. Whether that is a waterproof backing board, a water proof membrane or a liquid waterproofing. Have your installer continue the water proofing all the way to the ceiling. Make sure you request it.
3. Tiling up to the ceiling makes the space feel more spacious.
You can trick the eye with this decorator’s trick. Take the tile to the ceiling. On the tub surround below, you can tell what I mean. Tiling up to the ceiling really makes the space feel and look much larger!
4. Tile to the ceiling makes the bathroom look more modern!
I’m mostly seeing 3/4 showers in older, less updated homes. If you’re looking to UPDATE your home, tiling to the ceiling is a must! It makes the space look more luxurious.
5. Bull nose edging or profile edging will be MORE expensive than tile!
It’s unsightly to have unfinished edges in a tiled area.
So, anywhere you stop your (porcelain) tile you will need some sort of edging, (excluding miters) whether that is bull nose or profiles. Bull nose is EXPENSIVE! More expensive, in fact, than the tile itself. The bull nose edging on the top of a shower costs more money than the tile itself and is also more work for the installer to put in! JUST TILE IT!
There are a few situations where it’s NOT advantageous to to tile to the ceiling! Let me explain those here:
When you have 12 foot high ceilings, (or more) we will usually stop below the ceiling. It allows us to go well above the shower head so you still have the illusion of height.
In the photo below, we were boxed in by what would look visually pleasing.
We looked at the room and thought the window was a good stopping point for the tile. The question with tile is often, where do you stop? It’s very subjective as to what looks best , and sometimes you need to determine the most logical point that gets you your desired look.
If you have high ceilings, unless you want to spend some serious coin tiling everything, you need to make a decision on where you want the tile to stop.
If you have crown wrapping a room, I recommend stopping below the ceiling or removing the crown and having a finish carpenter come in to rearrange it. In the situation below, the crown goes against the wall to zero, where as the tile will stick out proud of the crown 1/2”. No way to make that look great.
The builder didn’t “build out” the crown, so, where the tile met the crown received a large bead of silicone! Doesn’t look as good as it could:
If you have crown and you don’t want to re-do it all, to accommodate tile to the ceiling, I’d say you should stop it below the crown.
Here’s an example of what it means to “build it out”:
If you have crown and you want to go to the ceiling, the solution is to build out the crown to accomodate for the thickness of your tile. This way, the wood crown trim to tile transition doesn’t look FUNNY!
In closing,
Buying a custom tile job is your personal expression. So, what happens in your home is your personal choice.
When I’m speaking to my clients, I frame the project like this:
Not only does tiling up to the ceiling have an aesthetic element, but it also has a functional element. Tile functions better than any other finish. Tile lasts longer than any other finish! Yes, it also can look better than any other finish.
You pay more for tile than most other residential coverings, but it ultimately lasts longer and you get more use out of it, so over time it is the least expensive option! Remember, that cost over time!
Tiling to the ceiling will be an added expense but tile is a luxury, it is inherently expensive! Go all the way because you are dealing with a permanent finish. It’s not something that can be easily added after the fact.
Tile to the ceiling and enjoy the benefits of tile for the life of your home.
Alpharetta, GA quality bathroom remodel walk through.
Our powerful bathroom remodel in Alpharetta, GA that we are proud to have provided for our client.
This week I was excited to have a planned walk through of a bathroom remodel in Alpharetta, GA we finished after Christmas. We were called on to finish the bathrooms upstairs and while we were there, I wanted to be sure to get the final piece to a bunch of content I had accumulated over a couple of months.
We’ve been remodeling bathrooms for quite a few years now and I never cease to get excited for the final project blog post and walk through. We do still get a kick out of our work!
It’s pretty difficult making this content. I sit on a bunch of footage and pictures for a long period of time before I can put it all together. Patience, Ben, PATIENCE!
This project turned out incredible. It is one of our favorites. It was a very technical project requiring all of our skills and foresight. It took just about about one month to complete. Seemed a bit longer in hindsight because it was done between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Everything takes longer that time of year! We did quite a few incredible bathroom remodels last year and this one was a cherry on top of 2019.
Our client Jerry had called us and he wanted us specifically for his remodel. I started in with my presentation over the phone, laying it on heavy about what makes us so great, and he said,
“Hey, listen I don’t need you to be a salesman, I know what I want and I want to meet with you guys.”
I was taken aback for a moment and I blurted out the first thing that came to mind,
“You just called me a salesman. I’m honored because most days I feel like a crusty tile guy and I’m covered in thin set!”
A true statement!
We laughed and that broke the ice!
I’ve since changed my approach a little bit, but I can’t help but constantly be differentiating. It’s a crowded field out here and sometimes I admittedly over do it on the initial phone call. My goal is to impress. I’m sure it comes off as wind and bluster at times. Hey, at least I’m trying! I want the opportunity. That’s all it is!
I usually handle the first sales calls and set up the meeting and Jason will take it from there. Our system of me being the promotional guy or the “hype man” as the kids call it, works really well for us. I suppose an advantage of working with us, is that we know our strengths and weaknesses. We’ve been working together long enough to understand that Jason has a great disposition for long term relationships, and I’m more equipped for energy and promotion. Not that I can’t do what he does or vice versa, we just do what works. We work to each others strengths. It’s an advantage of being an established partnership with a long history.
Jerry really valued quality and competence. He seems like the type of man that finds experts and lets them do their thing. I admire him a lot. He’s an entrepreneur and a successful businessman and I walk by his office and he’d be working away, talking on the phone, doing what he does and I think to myself, “Wow, this guy is doing it.” I can’t say I regularly see someone that works as hard as he does. He’s an inspiration to Jason and I. We would take the opportunity to pick his brain whenever we could. I implemented a lot of things he recommended. He is a brilliant marketer so his advice was incredible. I’m glad to have met him. I’m even more honored that he entrusted us with his home.
Jerry and his wife Judy were so kind, they gave our kids gingerbread houses for Christmas. I still remember we had such a good time making them. My Rosie kept eating all the decorations.
Anna, who would sneak off to see us She was one of the sweetest dogs we’ve experienced over these years!
One of the first videos I made about this project was our demolition process video. It goes over how we do a demolition. This is the part most people are worried about. They wonder if their house is going to be damaged or revered. This is where the rubber meets the road and homeowners find out if they hired the right contractor. You can tell on demo day if you did a good job in recruiting.
There’s no mystery as to how we do things because I documented how this one went. This is how we do it every time:
This is what our showers look like before we water proof. This pan is ‘mud’. We let a load of weight off the structure by building that bench out of foam. Before there was about 600lbs of block concentrated on that spot!
We have great coverage in this photo. We try are hardest to get complete thin set coverage under every tile. That effort adds time to these projects, because we are VERY often pulling tiles off the wall and adding thin set, to more fully support the tile. We would get done much faster if we didn’t do this. “How can this project take so long?” This is one part of the reason why!
Then there was this pebble floor. Like always, the pebbles came on a sheet. The pebble were jammed together, not leaving room for grout. Grout has a purpose. It creates a buffer zone between the tiles. When the tiles are jammed together it is unsanitary and allows a place for gunk to hide.
Also, when you put the sheets together, you could see the sheet lines. The pebbles on the sheet were STIFF so they wouldn’t conform to a bowl.
So, we set them one by one. It took us a day and a half because the sheets had big, medium and small sizes.
Tile pebble shower floor in Alpharetta, GA.
This sheet of stone mosaics is so stiff, it leaves us wondering, how is that supposed to conform to the bowl shape in the shower pan. Another reason we take them off the sheet.
Jason, lead tile installer in Alpharetta, GA setting the pebbles one by one. This is a daunting task. We get them done by doing them "ONE PIECE AT TIME!”
Schluter systems drain with tile pebble shower floor in Alpharetta, GA.
These walls were extremely out of whack! Jason had to do a bunch of fixing in order to get them right. The original builders of these homes throw them together with record speed and very little precision. Why wouldn’t they, the material they are putting up doesn’t require an exacting touch. Small ceramic tiles, pretty basic stuff. Loose tolerances on things like framing are acceptable.
We are putting up large format tile, frame-less glass doors, very technical material.
Overall, this shower took a ton of planning in order to get it perfect. I was pretty impressed with Jason on this one. I don’t usually use my brain very much when I’m working with Jason. I’m second in command, taking phone calls, making content, being a helper. He does all the heavy thinking. This one took a lot in order to have it end up like it did. I really was amazed.
When I think of what the ideal project is for us, I think, the most technical project. A project that takes a ton of planning and a lot of brain power to complete. Those are the projects that we are a perfect fit for. Our portfolio is full of those.
A lot of planning went into nailing these angles!
I made a flood test video at this project as well. When we build a shower before we set any tile we fill our pan with water to make sure it operated like it should and holds water with out leaking. We water proofed this shower with a combination of Schluter Kerdi fabric put together with Ardex 8+9, which is how they do it in Europe. It makes the system actually water proof. We put a lifetime craftsmanship guarantee on our work.
This video explains why we do a flood test and was shot on location.
We used a wet saw tent to make sure the water was contained and didn’t impact any of the stuff in Jerry’s garage. It worked out great and it is now a permanent part of our arsenal. We are the guys you hire when you value your property and you don’t want your things destroyed.
I photo of the finished product. What a great improvement. We are really proud of how it turned out and I believe we saved our best remodel for the end of 2019.
I wanted to mention that this was all porcelain tile. The tile on the wall looks like a marble, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not! What a world we live in. You can get something that LOOKS exactly like marble without the maintenance and the hassle that goes along with marble. We always say that most of the good marble has been mined and unless you want to spend BIG BUCKS, steer clear of marble. The supply now has iron deposits that you can’t see, but come through as orange/brown defects after the material is installed. Can you imagine?
Who wants to mess with that HASSLE! Like I said, go with the porcelain, the look of marble, without the pain!
Alpharetta GA, master bathroom tile shower remodel.
The Hamilton Tile team: Ben and Jason. We don’t always get these final photos together, but when we do..it’s pretty neat thinking that these will live on for years to come. Not to mention, we built this! We take pride in what we do. If you can’t tell, I can’t help you! :P
Our recent bathroom remodel in Alpharetta, GA. Look at that before and after! That’s a zinger right there! :)
In the video walk through below, Jason and I go through everything we did on this project. The challenges and what makes what we did different than what every one else does. We even go into what this bathroom cost. Nothing beats a video walk through and you really can’t conceal lousy work when you do a walk through with a quality camera!
I ask you to look at the detail in this bathroom. We really nailed our marks on this one.
Thanks in advance for watching.
I hope this video inspires you to call us for your bathroom remodel. I think we are perfect for your project and I promise we bring this level of finish and care to everything we do.
Towne Lake, Woodstock, GA: custom master bathroom remodel...Behind the Scenes
“Don’t believe what we say, watch what we do".”
In today's video, the guys at Hamilton Tile take it step by step and show you behind the scenes of their latest master bathroom remodel in Towne Lake, Woodstock. GA.
"Video killed having no idea what you're buying"
People look at me funny when they see me with my camera equipment.
"Why would you do that?"
It’s crabs in a bucket. When crabs see another crab climbing out of the bucket, they attempt to drag the escaping crab back into the bucket.
I usually laugh it off, but let me tell you why my camera equipment is an important tool in my toolbox…
I film for our clients.
When you hire a “contractor” you have no idea what you’re going to get. You take the guy’s word for it. "Oh, he did a great job at my neighbor’s house.” But really, how do you know he’ll do a great job at yours?
What evidence do you have that you should blindly trust anyone in this world?
Our people can watch their bathrooms being built in real time. Any questions? Watch the videos. Watch our videos over a four year period. The consistency of character is your guarantee.
“I wonder if they did a flood test on my shower?”
Hire Hamilton Tile and the answer: WATCH YOUR PROJECT VIDEO!
Why don’t people bother us and babysit us when we're working on their projects?
BECAUSE THEY WATCH OUR VIDEOS AND KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET!
Our waterproof shower in Towne Lake, GA. Our customers will never wonder how their projects are built unlike 99% of the people who do not use us for their bathroom remodeling project.
When people do something messed up, do you think they'll film it and broadcast it to the world?!
That's why we're the REAL DEAL. TRANSPARENCY. COME WATCH US WORK! No QUESTIONS! NO WONDERING!
Listen to us TALK IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. You think we're faking it or lying? Fine: watch us say the same kind of stuff for 4 years. How about now?
Some advice I once received:
"Never take advice from people running on last generations software."
The people who don’t understand “content marketing”,
They're running on LAST CENTURIES' SOFTWARE.
THIS IS A NEW WAY TO DO BUSINESS.
DEMAND YOUR RE-MODELER SHOW THEIR WORK!
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING.
You're not buying a bathroom...You are buying US. Hamilton Tile: Jason Hamilton and Ben Santos: at your service.
Always remember:
“What’s under the tile, the most important part!”
Enjoy the show.
Cold feet? Come see how we do a heated floor!
Today, the guys at Hamilton Tile in Woodstock, GA install a heated floor.
Let me walk you through this step by step and if you prefer some ACTION you can check out the accompanying YouTube Video. Find out how our projects go together. These videos offer a ton of insight into who you’re hiring, what you’re getting, and what kind of quality to expect when we show up at YOUR house!
We start out with high quality thin set. This stuff is called Ardex X77 and it’s one of the better “stick-ums” on the market. Very sticky, with a long open time. Open time refers to the amount of time a thin set can stay spread with out skinning over. You want a long open time when installing a membrane, like Flexbone, because we are spreading a lot of thin set at one time.
This is Ardex Flexbone Heat. It’s an uncoupling membrane that allows for wire to be laid out within these plastic protrusions. It also allows for self leveling compound to be applied over top of it instead of spreading thin set to cover the wire. We are liking it better because it protects our wire during the installation process. It’s very hairy installing on top of heated floor wires, because one drop, one oops and you may destroy your wire. This makes a destroyed wire less likely.
The back of this plastic is a micro fiber cloth backing that adheres very well to thin set.
We’ve pre cut all of our Flexbone pieces, we’ve laid out where they go. This floor was considerably out of whack, so we have already used self leveling compound to make it right. Click here to see the video about how we self level. Here in our first step, Jason gives the substrate a drink of water by wiping it with a wet sponge in order to encourage better thin set adhesion and pick up any dust or residue. A very important (and often ignored) first step.
Next step is to take the flat side of the trowel and “burn in” your thin set into the substrate. This is also an often ignored tile technique. What this does is work the thin set into the substrate at a molecular level. Doing this is far superior to starting with the notch side of the trowel, exclusively.
After burning in his thin set, Jason uses a 1/4” notch trowel, and starts evenly spreading his thin set.
Jason then (very carefully as not to create a MESS) places the Flexbone into the bed of thin set. Speaking of messes, notice the lack of mess at the end of this project.
Jason is seen rolling the mat into the thin set, applying all of his weight to ensure proper adhesion.
Through out this process, we are checking for coverage under our mat. Coverage is going to determine how well tile or mat is sticking to whatever you are applying it to.
Once all this mat is down, we leave and let it dry. Putting the mat down is all we do that day. The mat needs to be dry before we can install the heat wire. Wondering where the added expense of a heated floor comes from? There it is. The time it takes to put them in. We don’t move to a different project, because everyone wants you to work for them exclusively. No one wants to be shuffled. So, exclusive treatment come at an added expense. We wouldn’t want to do multiple jobs at the same time any way. Why? Because we put 100% of our focus and passion into each job…we do not spread ourselves thin. That’s what you want out of your bathroom re-modeler. Multi-tasking is a lie in this business!
Jason is testing the wire before we start putting it in. We will test this wire time and time again through out this process. Better to take it back or take it out before tile is on top of it. What do I always say, “An ounce of prevention”? This is the perfect example of us living the saying.
Jason is snapping the wire into place. These kits come according to the amount of square footage you want to cover. Do a little math to figure out your spacing and Bob’s your Uncle. We stay a certain distance away from cabinets, toilets and walls. The blue “sill seal” foam is to create a space for expansion and contraction. A MUST when installing self leveler (or any tile for that matter). The spray foam and blue “sill seal” also prevents the water like self leveler from escaping. This stuff will flow EVERYWHERE if it is not CONTAINED.
Here we test our hole that will have our conduit that will lead to the Thermostat.
Jason uses hot glue to secure his termination point and hot/cold splice.
Once all the wire is down and tested once again, we start mixing our liquid backer board self leveling compound. We are conscientious of dust, because we are in a master bedroom here. We use OSHA approved HEPA vacuum suctions systems and equipment designed to mitigate dust. Floors covered with carpet plastic and an added layer of rubber mat liner. Ask our former customers about dust. I assure you, they speak highly of what we do to minimize it.
The reason this is done inside, close to the work area, is because of the speed that is necessary when putting this stuff down. If it’s not done quickly, the different pours do not meld together as they should.
Self Leveler compound is poured on top of the wire and spread to completely cover it.
Let it all dry and it’s ready for tile. Jason is checking to see how flat we were able to get it with a level! It’s great and ready to go! Quite a process. But if you are over a garage and you have a cold bathroom like this one, it’s money well spent.
Watch the video to see us in action!
Woodstock, GA: Glass shower doors. What does it cost and how does it go?
Woodstock GA: Glass shower enclosure. What does it cost and how does it work?
There have been a lot questions directed at me about glass door installations. Today, Jason, owner and lead installer of Hamilton Tile breaks down the details of glass shower door installation.
What to do and what not to do. What it costs. How our process works.
Follow us on IG @HamiltonTileGA
Read the blog post about glass door installation mentioned in the video: .
Ball Ground, GA kitchen back splash installation.
Last week, I completed a kitchen tile back splash in Ball Ground, GA. It was a few days work and I’ve documented the process from start to finish. Also, there are some of my musings and hidden knowledge bites for the curious.
Thanks for watching and following along with my journey.
Hope you all are well.
Are pro tile installers abandoning Schluter Systems?
In today's video the guys from Hamilton Tile talk about their loss of faith in Schluter Systems. There has been a lot of discussion and modification to the tradition of trust and good faith when it comes to water proofing showers using Schluter products. Well, today we talk about the end to the good faith and our diversification into new fronts to better provide peace of mind and a superior product to our wonderful customers that trust us with so much of their hard earned money.
Special thanks to @tilecoach, Issac O for all your hard work. Probably feels like your shouting into a void, but man, you're opening minds! check out his channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/916tile/...
Another thanks to D's Tile! Donnie D.! You are the man, sir! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHAG...
Follow us on Instagram @HamiltonTileGA
Comment with your feelings and experiences with Schluter Systems.
Let us know how and what you think. Continue the movement and let's get Kerdi-Coll to the U.S. to solve these problems. Let's not accept the answer of "don't worry about it." We're too good for that!
Let's work to have the TCNA standards modified!
9 Essential questions for your potential contractor.
For starters, not one of these 9 essential questions to ask your contractor is a basic one like:
“Do you have a license and insurance?”
or
“What’s your warranty?”
Those type of questions are important, and verification should be attained, but unless you’re hiring someone off of your neighbor’s couch or from your local Home Depot parking lot(that’s on YOU!) every legit company will easily be able to prove they have these prerequisites. Let’s go a little DEEPER with this one!
Those are for an article by another writer who is not in the field every day, observing human short comings and seeing shoddy work. That article is written by people who aren’t fielding the calls about “leaky showers” and “failed floors”.
I am.
I also have been blessed with access to a group of other professional tile installers, through social media. I’m talking about the top guys from throughout the country, and a couple have been kind enough to give me some of their “contractor questions.” They are also in the field every day observing and categorizing the failures, the scams and the cheaters. They too, want to help empower you!
My goal also, (as always) is to help you get an incredible finished remodeling project with the least amount of stress and anxiety.
SO,
Before you hire any re modeler, contractor, builder, tile guy, sheet rocker, ANY ONE who works in your home, ask them these questions and see what their responses are. You’ll get a grand insight into their over all mindset. Their answers will help you determine if they are someone you want to hire.
Also, if you ask these questions, and they answer in a way you desire, YOU CAN HOLD THEM TO IT DURING THE JOB!
HERE WE GO:
Who performs the work at my home?
Many companies have sales people or the owner acts as the sales person and they have multiple sub contractors or employees. Those are the people you want to vet. The people who will be performing the work.
Often, someone will come and sell you a job, everything seems great, then they send a bunch of shady characters to do the work. Yeah, you get a guarantee from the guy selling the job, but if he’s unethical, greedy, or just generally doesn’t have GREAT character, you’re out of luck when something goes south.
The guys on the ground are the front line troops in a construction company. LABOR, much more important then we give it credit for.
To me, compatibility and comfort with the workers is just as important as compatibility with the sales guy or GC. Ease of communication is just as important with them, as it is with the GC. The GC or sales person might be great, but it’s important to determine if that culture spreads throughout the company, from the top down. Ask if there will be a PERMANENT on site project manager! Someone experienced in leadership, management and communication. Not a person who does the daily “check in” and leaves.
The next question:
2. What accreditation/certifications have you or your company pursued?
This shows that continuing ed and being active and aware within their trade is important to them. How people train their employees is very important. If the labor isn’t on the same page as the management or the owner, you may have problems. What good is it to have an experienced, conscientious owner, with every subordinate doing their own thing? I’ve seen it many times!
When you hire Hamilton Tile, for example, you will get a similar finish whether Jason or I do the work because Jason trained me, I follow his methods and we are both certified installers.
A good answer to this question would be, “We are members of the National Tile Contractors Association, we attend their classes and we are also Certified Tile Installers.” Construction is CONSTANTLY changing, so staying up on the latest trends and procedures is vital. Certifications/accreditation is one way to make sure the company you’re looking to hire is legitimate and professional.
If they work with many subs:
3. How long have you been working with your sub contractors.
I’ve been asked more times then I can count to work short notice by different general contractors. They don’t know me, they didn’t research me, they were looking for a warm body. That type of short notice recruiting is common among “builders”. You want a general contractor that has established relations with their subcontractors. It’s a bad sign if a General contractor can’t keep people around and if he’s constantly recruiting new people! Of course, they can LIE about this question, but you’ll be forming a relationship with the labor, and you’ll inform the contractor of that…so feet will be held to the fire.
4. Do you have a company motto?
This gives a lot of insight into a companies’ culture and belief system. An outfit that has a motto generally tries to live up to that motto. Get the elevator pitch! DEMAND this level of professionalism.
5. How many jobs do you run at the same time?
I’ve seen many people get burnt by a company running many jobs at the same time, and THEIR job is shuffled around and not prioritized. We believe in one job at a time, because that job gets our full undivided attention. If a company is running multiple jobs, there may be periods when nothing gets done at your job and in my opinion, the more spread out a company is, the less attention and precision you will get!
6. Do you have an internet presence? Do you content market?
This is a big one to me. People who take pride in their work, show their work. You want to see evidence of them performing the work and some degree of documentation as to what their day looks like. Your eyes and your ears are the best for detecting legitimacy. The internet is a way for us to verify what we’re going to get before contractors start their work and I recommend you trust your senses.
The internet has opened a world of knowledge and allowed for greater transparency in 2020, it’s your GREATEST resource! REQUIRE CONTENT out of people that work at your house.
Browse the web and look for a history. Look for interaction with other trades people, like in their comment sections. Are the interactions positive or negative? Do the other trades people praise your potential hire’s work or denigrate it?
Does the tradesman have photos and videos of them PERFORMING the work? Great reviews? Video or audio with them talking about their work and their over all mindset?
7. Who is your ideal customer?
Jason was asked this by an interviewer recently and he came with an answer immediately. “If you care about how your project is built, we want to work for you.” That’s a great answer and is, indeed, our target market. People who think in these terms are serious professionals and not someone that’s just bouncing from job to job, not caring about what they’re doing. THOUGHTFULNESS is a quality you want in a contractor. If they give you an answer that doesn’t fit with how you think, maybe re-evaluate the hire!
8. What do you do to ensure my project is going to last and also function the way it should?
That’s the whole point here. Why have anything done at your house if you have to re-do it in 5 years. Get yourself a PLAN OF ATTACK. Get yourself an explanation about their methodology. Maybe get into some technical details. Have the recruit talk detail.
A good answer:
“We ensure your project is going to last because we follow ANSI standards and also install according the TCNA hand book.”
9. If there is a problem or I have a complaint, how do you handle that? Can you give me an example of a time you had a complaint and what you did to take care of it?
There is going to be problems inevitably on a project. Things can go south quick at that point. Ask for an example of a time the company had an issue. Ask for specifics about how it was resolved.
I always push: COMPATIBILITY OVER PRICE. COMPATIBILITY OVER ALL ELSE.
You want to be on the same page with the people that work in your home, you want to verify that they care, and that they know what they’re talking about. Most of all, you want to make sure you’re going to get something aesthetically pleasing, functional and lasting when they leave your house.
These questions help you determine an OVERALL MINDSET of the person or company you are recruiting. Think CONCEPTUALLY.
If you’re dealing with great men and women of good character who are professional, detail oriented, conscientious, methodical, thorough, ethical, etc. You’ll have nothing to worry about. These questions will help you determine if your potential contractor possesses these essential qualities.
I’d like to thank Alex Bergland at RGC Renovations for his contribution to this article!
If you are in the Atlanta area give him a call and be sure to check out his website.
RGC Renovations is the real deal and they won’t let you down.
https://www.rgcrenos.com/
I’d also like to thank the DIY TILE GUY himself, Jim Upton of TIGER MOUNTAIN TILE: Issaquah, Washington!
Give his site a look!
www.diytileguy.com
I also want to thank EVERY PRO TRADES PERSON online that shares their story! You are an invaluable resource to me and enlighten and inform me everyday! I love the internet because of you men and women!
Why do homeowners get CHEATED during home remodeling?
I started listening to “Handel on the Law” a radio show hosted by a guy named Bill Handel, who takes legal questions from callers. It was recommended to me by one of our customers and it was interesting to hear the show validating my suspicions on a national level. Four calls during the one-and-a-half-hour call in show were from folks getting bamboozled during remodeling projects.
I’m not surprised because I am in the field everyday and I see the low standards out there, but listening to his show simply validates my suspicions and left me wondering:
WHY ARE HOMEOWNERS CONSTANTLY GETTING CHEATED DURING REMODELS?!
Jason and I are constantly talking about this topic, so we’ve hit the question from multiple different angles, and I’ve constructed my position in an environment of scrutiny, so you’re not hearing this from a lightweight! When we’re building a bathroom eight hours a day, this is the kind of stuff we talk about!
In today’s blog post I’m going to give you the low down from the perspective of a tile installer and an active observer of human frailties. I’m not attacking homeowners, you guys pay my salary and I love you! I’m hoping to set you up for success. This is also based on the idea that all “builders” or “contractors” are going to rip you off. This clearly isn’t true, there are great ones out there. But as a homeowner you mine as well assume that they are. No one is looking out for you, EXCEPT YOU.
Maybe you can use these six points to steer you in the right direction during your next home remodel recruiting session.
1. Homeowners have no knowledge or curiosity of standards and practices.
Customers can’t know everything about bathroom remodeling or construction generally, that’s what you hire “pros” for. But come on now, can you try, A LITTLE? The old Russian proverb (later credited to President Ronald Reagan) says it best: “Trust but verify!”
How do you go about “verifying”? Well, look for online content. A craftsman that shows his work takes pride in his work. Don’t just look for finished pictures or videos. Look for pictures of the company IN ACTION.
Another way to verify standards and practices is to get into the nitty gritty technical minutia during the interviewing process.
I’ve read many sales books and they say most purchases are made based on emotion. “I like this contractor; I’ll give him my work.” He’s from my church, I’ll give him my work.” NO, NO, NO!
The emotional stuff has got to go!
You want your re modeler to be a technical WHIZ and to speak in that language! Talk of rainbows and fancy pants is not an indicator of someone that will build you a lasting, functional, BEAUTIFUL finished product!
Also, do some research on your own. Put a couple hours into YouTube videos, technical manuals, blogs, social media. You’ll be spending a boat load of money, so do your research! Maybe you have ONE QUESTION that is a benchmark for the builder’s technical prowess and to determine if he’ll meet your needs. For shower building a great one is:
“Do you silicone all plane changes in the shower?”
If they say no or give an excuse as to why they don’t, you don’t hire them because you know (based on your research) that siliconing plane changes in a wet area is nationally STANDARD. So, if your recruit is neglecting that fact, they’re not following standards and practices.
Tell them: BEAT IT!
Most people get duped during a bathroom remodel because: THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE BUYING.
2. Homeowners fall for the loaded front end, without consideration for the back end.
When I use the term “front end” in the context of construction I’m referring to the owner that sells the job, the salespeople that are doing it for the owner, the brick and mortar store.
When I say “back end” I’m talking about the people who do the work.
It’s important to note, you’re not buying a smile and a store. That, of course, is part of the experience. What you are buying is a finished product within your house and the people who are performing this skilled craft are far more important than a slick sales pitch, a colorful brochure, or a “design consultation.”
If you are hiring a big outfit to build your project, make sure they have project managers that are on site and involved. Make sure the front-end people that sold you the job are truly involved and that they don’t just hand it off to the $20 an hour, mystery men in the white vans. I see more people bamboozled by this scenario than any other.
People are constantly getting cheated during a remodel because, they don’t vet the people who actually do the work!
3. Homeowners are constantly searching for “the deal”.
Being involved in the construction business for all these years and also talking with other tradesmen, I notice a pattern: There is no higher virtue than getting a deal.
Unfortunately, I find that deals are an illusion of a deal. You’ll have to put up with a lot of undesirable behavior and most likely an undesirable FINISH to get that “DEAL”.
Let’s face it, in order to get something for free, a corner has to be cut or someone else has to lose. This is a fact of life. As a tradesman myself I wonder, what ever happened to paying people what it costs to have something done right. Well, I must attest that there are unscrupulous “builders” out there and the stereotype of the shady builder is well deserved, in many cases. I suppose it’s the point of this article.
But, if you find a great one, pay them!
When I see a bathroom that is lousy, I ask the homeowner, “How much did you pay?”
Invariably, it is a laughably low number and I’m surprised anything got done.
I think, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT TO GET?!
In 2020 things are extremely expensive. It’s a fact of life. Buy groceries, a car, college, anything. Construction is no different.
Homeowners regularly get burned on their bathroom remodel because getting a deal is the highest virtue.
4. Homeowners don’t understand the enormous undertaking of a remodel. Many have a “high time preference.”
Someone with a high time preference is focused substantially on their well being in the present and the immediate future.
So, get it done, yesterday!
Bathroom remodeling is a huge endeavor. I’m not going to sugar coat it, or downplay it as “easy”. Even the smallest construction project can take days to complete, countless trips to the store, and years of accumulated knowledge so, when a person calls and says,
“Oh, it’s just a small back splash, it should be easy.”
Or
My favorite
“A shower takes 11 days to build? That’s ridiculous, it should take 4!”
I cringe!
The worst part is that construction workers have internalized this desire of homeowners to have things done faster, faster, faster. They use guilt on us when they hear how long our projects take. They comment:
“I would have had that done in a week.”
To these guys I respond,
“We don’t have to come back to fix things.”
For many construction guys, the speed in which they complete a project is the highest virtue.
Speed and quality rarely play well together!
A master bathroom can be months of work. Good things come to those who wait. Just be prepared to allow the people who are performing the work in your home the time they need to get it done, with quality and precision.
Homeowners are constantly getting raked over the coals on their remodel because they value SPEED over QUALITY.
5. Homeowners care more about “LOOKS” than “Longevity and functionality”
With tile, looks are only part of the equation. What gives tile it’s long lasting reputation is mostly the quality of the installation. Therefore, worrying about the looks alone is a brutal mistake.
Obviously, looks are important, but many failures that we see looked great when the installer left, only to mold or rot. I can install beautiful tile that looks incredible in a shower, but it’s installed on sheet rock that will mold in 2 years. Get my point?
Many worry about looks exclusively without worrying about FUNCTION.
If you don’t like heavy maintenance, for example, you don’t buy natural stone. Natural stone LOOKS great but functions poorly without constant upkeep.
The important part of a bathroom remodel or any tile job: WHAT’S UNDERNEATH.
Many homeowners are burned on remodels because there is too much focus on the aesthetics and not much care for the important stuff: What’s underneath and how the project will function during daily use!
6. Homeowners don’t have high standards during the recruiting process.
I was recently at an interview that our client had with a flooring company. Our client asked the flooring guy for a business card and he said,
“I haven’t had a business card in 40 years, we only have our names on these shirts because my tax person told me I needed a write off.”
That, my friends, is a bad sign!
No business cards, safe to say no website!
I would not be able to personally hire this person because I wouldn’t be able to VERIFY his work. I don’t care how good of friends I was with the person who referred him, I want to see a history of CONSISTENT, high end work, the people he is working with and you should want to see these things too!
You need to have HIGH standards when hiring a re modeler.
If you don’t think of remodeling as a PROFESSION, you’re cruisin’ for a brusin’ and your checking account will be a lot lighter for your trouble.
What’s the person look like when they come for an appointment? Are they professional? Do they dress nicely? Speak in a way that portrays experience and quality? Do the people you are hiring share your culture and values? Is it someone that you’d trust with your 90-year-old grandmother? You’ll be spending a lot of time and money with the people working in your home, so compatibility is very important.
Standards have waned but reality has not. If you wouldn’t want to give this person the key to your house, they shouldn’t be working at your house.
Many people get gypped during their remodels because they don’t have high standards for construction workers!
I listen to the people that call me with remodeling problems and most of the issues can be avoided with a little bit of foresight and self-awareness.
You see the bullet points above; these are things I see and think about every day. I study “the why” as it relates to remodeling and my hope is that I made you a bit more aware of the mental pitfalls during a home remodel: because awareness is half the battle.
GOOD LUCK
Wet Saw Tent: How to cut without the mess.
Wet saw cut tent.
In today's post we show you how to cut inside or around expensive items without making the mess. Every wet saw has some degree of over spray when cutting. The water hits the blade, hits the tile and often makes a mess. This is especially a pain when you are cutting inside. In this video we go over the plans we utilized from the DIY Tile Guy in order to limit the mess we make when we use our wet saw.
Click here for the link to the DIY Tile Guy’s informative blog post with plans:
Hamilton Tile bathroom remodels in Woodstock, GA: before and afters!
I’ve created this “before and after” gallery to really illustrate the extreme difference of when we show up, to when we leave. We do this with raw material, tools and our two hands. Your money and our skills, anything is possible.
Bathroom remodel in Johns Creek, GA.
Bathroom remodel: Milton, GA
Bathroom remodel: Woodstock, GA
Kennesaw, GA bathroom remodel.
Bathroom renovation: Marietta, GA
Bathroom remodel: Marietta, GA
Bathroom remodel: Acworth, GA
Bathroom remodel: Alpharetta, GA
Bathroom remodel: Kennesaw, GA
Bathroom remodel: Alpharetta, GA.
Listen to Jason and Ben on "The Stone and Tile Radio Show & Podcast"
Listen to Jason and Ben’s recent interview with Dr. Fred on "The Stone and Tile Radio Show & Podcast”
What a great honor!
Dr. Fred the host of “The Tile and Stone Show” is an immense vault of information regarding stone and tile. His resume is unprecedented (check out his “Our Team” section on his website.)
Speaking of his website, I highly recommend you check out Stone Forensics if you are curious about anything “stone”. It’s loaded with articles and information. If you’re having problems with your stone, of any kind, Dr. Fred is the guy to talk to. Click the link below.
Click here to give it a listen!
Holiday Back Splash: Holly Springs and Woodstock, GA. Tile Talk, tips and tricks!
Our latest video is a dual back splash installation. One in Holly Springs, GA and one in Woodstock, GA.
We are so grateful for our incredible clients this year. I couldn’t be happier with where we are and what we are building. I am one happy tile guy.
These projects are a little holiday season FUN and a test of Ben's fortitude, work ethic and GRIT. We take improving your home seriously, putting in the necessary time and going above and beyond to make our projects the centerpiece of your home.
But, don’t just take my word for it…See for yourself.
Looking to stay in your home long term?
We'll build you something that will last, that will wow your friends and family and have you happy with your investment.
Looking to go? We'll get you something that will sell your house with a quickness.
No corners cut, No games, No false promises.
Everything you see on www.hamiltontilega.com is what you'll get.
THAT'S what QUALITY means to us. We show you behind the scenes because we stand behind what we do! Enjoy the video. Please like, subscribe, SHARE and comment.
Instagram @HamiltonTileGA.
Enjoy your holidays with friends and family!
A big compliment from another true craftsman. When someone else who is a legit artisan acknowledges your talent, it’s an incredible feeling.
Scott is a high end cabinet guy, he’s seen it all…been in business for years, very successful person. This one really means something to me.
Leaky Shower Repair and Prevention: Woodstock, GA.
A leaky shower can be a disaster! You spend a lot of money on your dream master bath, only to have it leak from day one. Hamilton Tile of Woodstock, GA has a simple and easy solution for your shower leak issues.
We provide peace of mind during all of our master bathroom remodels by always, always, always following a simple rule: An ounce of prevention goes a long way!
Professional Tile bathroom remodeling services: Cartersville, GA
Bathroom Tile remodel service in Cartersville, GA.
In today's video we are remodeling bathroom tile in Cartersville, GA.
Our target market has always been people who care about how their project is built.
What's behind the wall, the small intangibles that we consistently perform to make for an anxiety free project. It's not hard to do what we do, film and photography technology is ubiquitous and cheaper than ever. Every contractor has the opportunity to have their very own "This Old House" in order to build confidence in their customers.
Why don't they?
It’s simple: They can't.
With content marketing we put ourselves out there in order to show you the most important stuff, what's underneath the tile! Unless you have your t's crossed and your I's dotted this kind of transparency isn't possible. Our goal: To SHOW you what you're going to get with us, who we are, and why we are different.
Thanks for watching and visiting our blog!
Instagram: @HamiltonTileGA
The Hamilton Tile Pro Bathroom Demolition Difference: Woodstock, GA.
Professional, clean, bathroom demolition Woodstock, GA
Here at Hamilton Tile of Woodstock, GA we are always trying to differentiate ourselves from everyone else in the construction business. It's important for us to create separation from the rest and what that always means is a better service, a better product for our clients.
In this video I talk a bit about our bathroom demolition process. All this goes down on day one of the job and it's critical for us to start strong because it sets the tone for the rest of the job.
If you think a demolition is "just labor" and anyone with a strong body can do it, this video is for you and it will hopefully challenge your existing opinion. The YouTube video below shows you the professional bathroom demolition difference when it’s performed by Hamilton Tile of Woodstock, GA!
Hamilton Tile: Professional Finish, Tidy Service.
I hope everyone that contacts this video has an excellent day. Let's chase excellence!
Table Talk: Here's why working in comfort equals working with quality (and safety too!)
In the construction world, we abuse our bodies like few other professions. This video is an explanation about how the "detail oriented" tile installers at Hamilton Tile in Woodstock, GA not only create better quality tile projects, but also lengthen their tile careers, by using one SIMPLE tool.
Bathroom Remodeling: Low & Slow NOT Blow & Go
I’ve been having a lot of fun with an analogy lately. With over 200 documented leads last year, many people get familiar with our company and our price structure. Often, we are not in the same stratosphere when it comes to arbitrary expectations. I get it! Not everyone values the same things.
Check out my blog post Why we're losing craftsmanship in a 'Market for Lemons' and a prescription for change. for my theory as to why!
I’ve been comparing our tile service to barbecue lately. Lovingly prepared by an over weight man, with a big, beautiful belly…maybe a touch of “secret sauce” on the edge of his mouth, one of those chef hats, with secret spices, specialized equipment and techniques…20 years of experience and the passion to match; cooking up that brisket or rack of ribs…LOW AND SLOW.
THAT’S US.
Now compare that to the other guys, the blow and go, minimum standard types…the mystery white vans…the “looks good enough from my house” variety. They’re like McDonald’s. Yeah, McDonald’s is okay. I ate it as a kid! It’s “cooked” by a 16 year old at their first real job, it’s questionable what’s really between the bun, awful quality, but it’s cheap and fast!
THAT’S THE OTHER GUYS.
We’ll never be McDonald’s, they’ll never be brisket. The question is, which one do you want to eat today?
So, when you’re deciding what “type” of tile work to go with, I recommend barbecue…because you have one shot at it and McDonald’s will be a long term cost that you don’t want to pay!
Back splash kitchen transformations in Cobb, Cherokee and Forsyth County!
Yes, Yes, Yes. We’ve been “doing it” all over Cobb, Cherokee and Forsyth counties in these recent weeks. One kitchen backsplash transformation after another, tile going up gang busters! Not only that, we’re documenting it all for your viewing pleasure.
Many give me the side eye when I’m recording or photographing our excursions and work, or when I’m teaching others about the power of these mediums… I call them critics. Many talk about being great “builders” or “contractors” with little evidence other than the words that come out of their mouths and their blurry “finished” pictures. We call them talkers. Meanwhile, here we are “doing” it, photos and videos of your trusted partners during your next remodel, “doing” our craft and proudly displaying it to build up confidence in you. Cultivating faith in our competency and mastery of a dying ART FORM. This blog, with four years of documentation has surpassed my wildest expectations, but it’s not about me…it’s about you and a new way of doing business…past the “handshake” model, where you take our word for it…a model where we spout words like “quality” , “experience” and “professional” without any context as to to what that means TO YOU, but a model where we show you what those words mean by bringing you verifiable proof that “We are who we say we are and we do what we say we’ll do!’
What other remodeling company is demonstrating and exhibiting this kind of paper trail?
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Back splash number one in Cumming, GA!
This was the first tile that was chosen for this back splash in Cumming, GA. We tore the old back splash out, put up new board, got ready to set tile…started opening these packages of tile only to find out…EVERY SINGLE SHEET WAS SCRATCHED. $40 a square foot tile. We refused to reward Villazio Tile by re-ordering this tile. Our client was willing to change her selection. It’s the story of a tile guy’s life…manufacturer produces inferior products and ships the stuff…and it’s left to us to make the decision to send it back because we won’t install it in someones home. Their lack of quality control becomes OUR problem! No other trade has to deal with this problem to the extent that tile guys do.
WE’RE NOT MCDONALD’S!
McDonald’s would install this stuff! Defects and all!
Again, the metaphor works!
How would you like it if McDonald’s installed this in your home? That’s why you want to eat brisket.
Sparkle grout with the matching silicone (around the perimeter) is another example of a small detail that we recommended on this project, that most installers would never have thought of. This adds that “one of a kind” characteristic that makes this back splash a personalized expression of this homeowners’ personality.
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Next back splash in Kennesaw, GA! One of my favorites to date. I loved how this back splash complimented this homes existing kitchen decor! The homeowner definitely has an eye for design. We like all of our customers but these people were a couple of our recent favorites! Thanks for having us!
We edged this back splash with a black color match profile from Schluter Systems. These color match profiles are some of our most popular options for edging. Whatever color tile you have, you can get a profile to protect the edge that blends in seamlessly, almost like it’s not even there!
We also (like always) used 100% commercial silicone sealant to install a soft joint around the entire perimeter of this splash so, they will never have that unsightly cracked grout! A high quality 100% silicone is vastly easier to clean whatever cooking mess may arise and also lasts considerably longer than whatever “siliconized” junk they sell at Home Depot.
A side note: Home Depot has started to hear our message because they are now carrying *a limited supply of Custom’s 100% silicone sealant! Things CAN change!!!
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The third kitchen back splash in Woodstock, GA was a timeless classic: 4"x10” subway tile with a cleanable, color consistent, stain proof Mapei Flexcolor grout. It was a big one, but nothing we couldn’t handle.
Demolitions of old back splashes are the most nerve racking part of a kitchen splash remodel. It still amazes me that we’re able to get them put back together and that we’re able to get them looking magazine worthy again. It’s a skill and an art form, not for the weak of heart or mind! The dust, the debris and the trepidation about working in someone’s finished kitchen around appliances, counter tops and cabinets.
The most frequent response I get to my phone question “What qualities do you like to see in the people that work in your home?” revolves around respecting and keeping their property clean, tidy and protected. Have a look at the photos and video in this blog post. We are the company you can trust that will go above and beyond while working in your kitchen. To us, “Quality” means delivering everything that you see on this web site. What you see here is what you will get.
Not to mention, recently we’ve made a new purchase to improve our tile service. We made the purchase of a Build Clean air cleaner that will keep your home even CLEANER than any other time in the past. This purchase was made to better serve you and show that respect and cleanliness that you expect during your next remodel. This is the level of service you deserve. “Professional finish, Tidy Service” It means something to us.
Look at the glue on these tiles. THEY ARE BARELY STUCK to the wall. Many people use ‘mastic’ to install back splashes which is a completely amateur move. Mastic is glue that comes in a bucket, pre-mixed and people use it because it’s like McDonald’s, FAST AND EASY…but inferior quality! (The metaphor works!) Compare that to the tile we stick to the wall in the picture below. I would hate to tear out one of our back splashes!
A very important detail most don’t even think of. One row of tile below the counter line so when the stove is pushed back, you only see tile!
We demolished this whole back splash down to studs and absolutely NO DRYWALL OR PAINT WORK was necessary when the new back splash was complete.
Check out this video breakdown of our Cumming, GA glass back splash remodel! Questions about how these go? We have plenty of answers for you in this video and throughout our website!
5 Reasons why NTCA members are the smart choice for wise homeowners!
You’ve been clicking through my website and I’m sure you’ve noticed the badge displayed above. On that circular symbol are written the letters “NTCA” which stands for The National Tile Contractors Association. Many companies have badges signifying they are members of trade organizations; admit it, they add an air of legitimacy. I won’t mince words here; That’s why we have it!
What’s different about our trade organization, the NTCA? The difference is: it actually means something to you, our client. It’s a tile trade organization that has been a mainstay in the tile industry since 1940. It brings so much value to our company, but more importantly to YOU as a consumer, otherwise, we would not be a member.
Here are five reasons hiring NTCA members is a wise choice for you, a tile consumer:
1. Members have access to a treasure trove of installation data.
Every tile installer knows that feeling of excitement when they go to their mailbox and inside, is the NTCA’s Tile Letter. The Tile Letter is an exclusive monthly magazine for NTCA members and it’s the gold standard for tile related articles and news. Inside the Tile Letter are articles with names like, Scribing: Demonstrating artistry and craftsmanship in Creative Tiling that contains an extensive breakdown of systems and methods to scribe tile, described by other top industry professionals. Trust me, you want your potential tile installer referencing this magazine for installation tips and techniques!
The NTCA also has the NTCA University, a group of online courses to further a member’s education as well as the NTCA Reference Manual that keeps its members up to date in order to better serve their customers. We also participate in hands on training sponsored by the NTCA.
The educational opportunities provided to NTCA members is the most significant and important factor in being a member. Other tile installers who are not part of this organization do not have access to this extensive resource and in an ever-changing business-like tile, the guys who aren’t constantly educating and informing themselves like NTCA members, are markedly inferior to those who are. It’s like any profession; teaching, for example. A teacher is regularly receiving additional training to update themselves and better educate their students. Professional tile guys do the same, to better serve, YOU!
NTCA training in Dunwoody, GA at the Tile Shop that we recently attended.
2. Members have access to a network of fellow installers.
With the wide variety of available finishes, patterns, lay outs and materials, it can be very tricky for even the most advanced installers and we may have some questions. It’s great to sometimes throw questions to a fellow installer and seek guidance from someone who has dealt with a challenge similar to what we are facing. The NTCA is a family of like-minded installers who are eager to help each other! Without the NTCA, installers are like an island, atomized and alone. Because of this organization we can unite in power and provide the most lasting, functional tile remodel possible. Our connections are KING!
3. Members are going to be up to date on the latest trends, installation techniques and materials.
Inside the Tile Letter and NTCA marketing material is a plethora of data informing installers of the newest trends, installation techniques and materials. Why is this important to you? It’s important to you because our main priority as professional tile installers is to act as a guide for our clients. NTCA members are given yearly vouchers to try different products that may be new to market or simply new to us! Any installer who is not up to date on the latest trends, installation techniques and materials will not be able to guide their clients as well as an informed, knowledgeable NTCA member.
4. Members are participants in a tile world outside of the one that is right in front of them.
If you’re seeing your tile installer as a person who sticks tile to the wall or floor, you are only seeing a small portion of the full picture. Tile is an entire Eco-system that great installers are driven to be a part of. NTCA members make a difference in the world through our profession. Being a tile crafts person is a way of life, a passion, a reason. You’re not just hiring labor, you’re hiring an artisan crafts person who sees far beyond the physical act of setting tile, because there is far more to our business than just that!
5. Members are helped by the NTCA to become more legitimate, professional businesses.
A better business means a better service for you, the tile consumer. The NTCA of course helps our company create systems and methods which ensure you with a consistent, lasting, functional finished project that you expect. But a great BUSINESS is far more than the finished product. It’s also about providing great customer service, building a business that retains quality, talented employees, keeping our books in order and making it easier for you to hire us. They do this by sponsoring great business related talk shows, like Tile Money and creating great content like Tile TV.
They inform us how to meet new Federal laws like OSHA’s new life saving silica dust mitigation rules. You can be assured that any non-member will be throwing deadly dust into the air, putting you and your family at risk. They simply don’t know any better! They would if they were a member!
NTCA also has 401k program and health insurance opportunities that add to our overall quality of life. They believe a happy, healthy tile installer does better work and I couldn’t agree more. We’ve all been around that resentful, unsatisfied worker. The NTCA helps us be the best version of ourselves by helping us become great businessmen who pass along that positivity to you, our customer.
The NTCA is more than a badge on our website or a sticker on our trucks. They are a trusted partner in our journey to provide you with the best tile experience possible. They share our values of bringing you a tile project that combines great looks, functionality as well as being a permanent display of your personality. We are not members of this organization for us, we are members for you. We’re bringing the value that you deserve and the NTCA helps us get there.
Be sure to visit the NTCA website to learn more about their history, benefits and mission by clicking here or entering the URL www.tile-assn.com into your web browser. I hope it builds confidence in you that you won’t just be hiring a tile installer, but you’ll be working with a member of a solid community who sees your project as more than just a job; but rather a business owner who seeks to improve your life, THROUGH TILE!
